Poll

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Dear Savvy Senior,
When I had a mild heart attack about six months ago my doctor told me I needed to be extra careful during the winter when recurring heart attacks are more common. Is this true? How can the seasons affect your heart?
Leery Senior

(Family Features) According to Janice Bissex, registered dietitian, one way to have enjoyable healthy meals is increasing variety at the table by including unique foods, such as lean lamb.

“When it comes to healthy entertaining, it’s important to serve a diverse array of foods,” said Bissex, “and flavorful, tender lamb is a nutrient-rich protein source that’s as easy to prepare as other meats.”
For more tips and tasty lamb recipes for healthy home entertaining visit www.leanonlamb.com and www.pinterest.com/leanonlamb.

Dear Savvy Senior,
What can you tell me about creating a family health history? My doctor recently suggested that I make one as a way to predict potential health problems as I get older, but I could use some help.
Getting Old

Dear Getting,
It’s a smart idea! Even with all the high-tech medical tests and procedures that are available today, an accurate family health history remains one of the most important tools in keeping yourself healthy as you age. Here’s what you should know, along with some tips and tools to help get you started.

In last week’s column, it was presented that the blame game is not a new phenomenon. It has been going on since the days of Adam and Eve. Today, some blame all personal and even family problems on someone else, I guess with the goal of accepting little or no responsibility for their own choices of behavior and patterns of living that they have chosen.

Dear Savvy Senior,
Am I entitled to my former husband’s Social Security benefits? I was married for 12 unpleasant years and would like to know what I may be eligible for.
Ex-spouse

Dear Ex-spouse,
You’ll be happy to know that for the most part, Social Security provides divorced spouses benefits just like they do spouses, if you meet the government’s requirements. Here’s how it works.

You and I have been bombarded lately with elected government officials, including those at the “top,” with this game being played out before millions of viewers, including this columnist. I have wondered if anyone will be honest enough to admit to wrong decisions having been made, mistakes that we are all aware of or should we continue to hear what we know are lies, half-truths, and officials dodging responsibility?

More and more Americans are turning to their pantry for mealtime inspiration. In fact, most Americans don’t go a week without using canned foods, and more often than not, a home cooked meal means cooking with canned ingredients.

Dear Savvy Senior,
Can you write a column on RV travel for beginners? My husband and I will be retiring in a few years and have always thought it would be fun to spend some of our time traveling around the country in an RV. What can you tell us?
Ready to Retire

Dear Ready,
The affordability, combined with the comfort, convenience and personal freedom it offers has made recreational vehicle (RV) travel immensely popular among retirees over the past decade.